N.Ryu has a swing punch that is an overhead, that is, it can only be blocked while standing. Also, he has a diagonal jumping Strong punch that juggles and a Fierce rush punch that can be used as a combo started or a dash. Naturally, N.Ryu can soften throws and has a super move, which no old character can do. A few aerial attacks' hitboxes are much bettr for O.Ryu. Also, his far standing Short and Forward kicks have better hitboxes, but much longer start-up and active periods. O.Ryu's cr.Short and cr.RH have much better priority, while his cr.Strong and cr.Forward have one frame longer recovery.

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Here is the list of differences:

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O.Ryu's ordinary (blue) Hadoukens have one less start-up and one less recovery frame, making the overall recovery 2 frames faster. Thus, they are much better for zoning. All O.Ryu's Shoryukens are also invincible on the way up, just like they used to be in the original SF2, but all versions knock down and the Strong and Fierce versions do more damage, like they do in Super Turbo ([read below]). O.Ryu's Tatsus recover much faster than N.Ryu's, making them better for shennanigans, but the Forward and RH versions do not travel as far. Finally, O.Ryu's air Tatsus have a 50% of being unblockable if they connect on the first frame.

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*Obvious stuff: N.Ryu can soften throws, has new punches(dash, overhead and air juggle) and Super;

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*N.Ryu has a longer pre-jump animation by 1 frame;

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*N.Ryu has some differences in some of his normals:

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**far.standing Jab has a thinner hitbox;

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**cr.Short, cr.Fwd and cr.RH have much worse priority;

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**far standing Short and Forward kicks have faster start-up;

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**a few aerial attacks' hitboxes are much worse for N.Ryu;

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*N.Ryu's ordinary (blue) Hadoukens have one more start-up and one more recovery frames, making the overall recovery 2 frames longer. Thus, he is an inferior zoning character, without super;

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*N.Ryu's Shoryukens are not only vulnerable on the way up, but have two frames where he is on the ground and vulnerable, thus throwable and in danger of comboed if being cross-up;

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*N.Ryu's Forward and Roundhouse Tatsus spin one more time than O.Ryu's;

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*N.Ryu's air Tatsus behave normally, while O.Ryu's air Tatsus have a 50% of being unblockable if they connect on the first frame.

Introduction

This page is about the Super Street Fighter II version of Ryu, also known as Old Ryu, or simply O.Ryu, for short. Ryu is the game's protagonist, and is considered a good all around character. Even though he is not the strongest in any aspect, he does have very good moves overall. Say, his projectile, the Hadouken, is the second best in the game, only after O.Sagat's Tiger. His special anti-air, the Shoryuken, is also the one with second best priority in the whole game, only after O.Ken's Shoryuken. Finally, his Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku recovers very quickly for this version, being good to reposition O.Ryu or surprise the enemy with a throw.

Ryu's strategy in the Street Fighter II series is, mostly, to employ his Hadoukens wisely so as to pressure enemies and either force them to take risks or get pushed into the corner. As O.Ryu does not have a super, this is stressed even more. Would the enemy jump forward, Ryu has several moves to deal with that, being the Shoryuken the most damaging one. However, unlike Ken, his projectile has a relatively fast start-up, which allows him to use it as a poke tool. This is the main reason why he has less trouble against a number of characters which have the advantage or fair match-ups against Ken.

Super Street Fighter II Ryu has a completely invulnerable Shoryuken, which helps him in situations N.Ryu has trouble, such as against T.Hawk's Tomahawk Buster and Boxer's Buffalo Headbutt. His Hurricane Kick is not invulnerable up until it hits, like it was in CPS-1 Street Fighter II Champion Edition and Hyper Fighting, but ti recovers quicker than N.Ryu's. In addition to it, his crouching kicks have much better priority, making him a more solid zoning character. However, as any old character, he can never soften throws, he does not have ST Ryu's command punches and he has no super moves.

Among all characters (old versions included), O.Ryu is considered to be in the same league as other strong characters, such as Guile, Dee Jay, O.Ken, O.Chun and O.Dhalsim. He is certainly behind the so called "big five", which consists of Dhalsim, Vega (Claw), Old Sagat, Balrog (Boxer) and Chun Li, and also behind N.Ryu, but not by any large margin.

Color Selection

To select O.Ryu, choose Ryu and then press → → → ← Jab/Fierce, pressing Short simultaneously with the punch button for the alternate color.

New & Old Versions Comparison

Obvious stuff: N.Ryu can soften throws, has new punches(dash, overhead and air juggle) and Super;

N.Ryu has a longer pre-jump animation by 1 frame;

N.Ryu has some differences in some of his normals:

far.standing Jab has a thinner hitbox;

cr.Short, cr.Fwd and cr.RH have much worse priority;

far standing Short and Forward kicks have faster start-up;

a few aerial attacks' hitboxes are much worse for N.Ryu;

N.Ryu's ordinary (blue) Hadoukens have one more start-up and one more recovery frames, making the overall recovery 2 frames longer. Thus, he is an inferior zoning character, without super;

N.Ryu's Shoryukens are not only vulnerable on the way up, but have two frames where he is on the ground and vulnerable, thus throwable and in danger of comboed if being cross-up;

N.Ryu's Forward and Roundhouse Tatsus spin one more time than O.Ryu's;

N.Ryu's air Tatsus behave normally, while O.Ryu's air Tatsus have a 50% of being unblockable if they connect on the first frame.

Moves List

Normal Moves

Ground Normals

Close Standing Jab:

Damage

3

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

2

4

5

ORyu performs an elbow smash in front and above his head. Fast start-up anti-air up close, with just OK priority.

Far Standing Jab:

Damage

3

Chain Cancel

Yes

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

2

4

4

1

Simplified

2

4

5

Rapid-fire Jab that has very good priority (ORyu's arm is completely invulnerable) but just acceptable reach and very low damage.

Crouching Jab:

Damage

3

Chain Cancel

Yes

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

2

4

4

1

Simplified

2

4

5

Rapid-fire ducking Jab with OK reach and very good priority. ORyu's arm is completely invincible.

Close Standing Strong:

Damage

14

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

1

2

2

6

4

3

4

Simplified

3

2

17

ORyu performs a hook. This move has a not very good recovery, so try canceling it into some special such as the hadouken to avoid punishment.

Far Standing Strong:

Damage

14

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

1

2

4

3

3

1

Simplified

3

4

7

ORyu performs a straight punch. This move has very good recovery, reach and priority. Works as anti-air against some moves, but notice ORyu's body moves forward a bit, so you need some room to use it correctly. ORyu's whole arm is invincible in this attack.

ORyu does a close upper. Good priority anti-air if the enemy is on top of you, and if he is close it can be canceled into any special attack for a basic but damaging combo. Bad recovery.

Far Standing Fierce:

Damage

18

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

No

Frame Count

3

2

6

10

12

1

Simplified

5

6

23

Similar to far.Strong, but with higher damage and longer reach, but the head hitbox moves forward just as much and the recovery is hideous. This move can not be canceled into specials, so make sure it hits or you will pay the price.

Crouching Fierce:

Damage

18

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

3

3

8

10

12

1

Simplified

3

11

23

Uppercut from crouching position. It does good damage and has a deceptively long horizontal reach, but just average to low priority and quite long recovery. This move is unsafe on block or hit and is mainly used in combos or as close-up anti-air. Favor standing Fierce if you can for the latter.

Close Standing Short:

Damage

8

Chain Cancel

Yes

Special Cancel

No

Frame Count

2

3

2

4

3

1

Simplified

5

2

8

O.Ryu performs a low kick that can be canceled into a far Short or crouching Short. This move must be blocked low.

Far Standing Short:

Damage

9

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

3

3

8

4

1

Simplified

6

8

5

High side kick with good priority, but sort of slow. Good anti-air, but it is slower than N.Ryu's.

Crouching Short:

Damage

3

Chain Cancel

Yes

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

2

4

4

1

Simplified

2

4

5

Rapid fire crouching low kick. This comes out slightly fasteer than N.Ryu's and has great priority: the whole leg is completely invincible during the move.

Close Standing Forward:

Damage

15

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

2

1

6

4

4

1

Simplified

3

6

9

Knee bash with a good recovery.

Far Standing Forward:

Damage

15

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

No

Frame Count

5

6

8

6

1

Simplified

11

8

7

High side kick with good priority, but hideous start-up. Good anti-air if you can hit the button early enough, but odds are you can't.

Crouching Forward:

Damage

14

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

1

2

6

4

4

1

Simplified

3

6

9

Crouching side kick. This move has good reach and recovery, but is has projected vulnerable hitboxes before it becomes active. It is an important tool when closing the gap on the enemy and trying to push him into the corner as it can be canceled into Hadoukens. It is also used in bread and butter combos.

Close Standing Roundhouse:

Damage

19 + 3

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

No

Frame Count

3

4

8

4

10

1

Simplified

7

8

4

11

ORyu performs an axe kick that hits twice if the enemy is close enough. This is not a very useful move, but it is safe on block from point-blank range and often trades with aerial attacks. If you use it as a meaty, you can combo a crouching kick for two or three hits. you often have better options, though.

Far Standing Roundhouse:

Damage

19

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

2

4

8

10

7

Simplified

2

12

17

ORyu's staple Roundhouse kick. Mediocre anti-air that can be canceled in the odd event that it hits during the first active part. This move can not be canceled into specials if it hits while the leg is fully extended.

Crouching Roundhouse:

Damage

17

Chain Cancel

No

Special Cancel

Yes

Frame Count

3

6

6

8

11

Simplified

3

6

25

ORyu's sweep kick. This move generates a fast knockdown if it hits. It has good range and the priority is such that it beats or trades with a number of moves. The recovery, however, is very long, so good players will try to bait this move so as to punish it afterward. This can be canceled into Hadoukens so you can push the enemy towards his corner or Shoryukens and Short tatsus for super meter.